Recording mechanism



Sept. 25, 1945. A. D. BRANHAM RECORDING MECHANISM 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10 sept- 1945' A. D. BRANHAM 2,385,399.

RECORDING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flrronws r.

Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORDING MECHANISM Adolphus n. Branham, St. Louis, Mo.

Application April 10, 1940, Serial No. 328,851

10 Claims.

such a mechanism wherein periodical registra tions are made at given intervals.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism wherein part of the transmission means includes a switch responsive to changes in a mileage device, together with remotely disposed registers of such mileage changes.

Further objects include a provision of a mechanism to cause registration at any time a predetermined speed is exceeded.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical view of one type of mechanism; and,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a similar mechanism, but with a dillerent means for transmitting movement of the mileage indicator to the register.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a speedometer coupling having a cable H by means of which it is driven from a suitable part of the vehicle (not shown), a connection l2 into the usual speedometer'head, and a connection that leads to the present instrument.

n the remote end of the connection I2 is secured a magnet N which is rotated. Adjacent the magnet there is a gear train it with the proper number and size of gears to drive a shalt H at one revolution for every mile, or other desirable distance. A flexible shaft leads to the register shaft Secured to the shaft ll adJacent the gear train is a cam 2| of nonconducting material. This cam has a peak 2| thereon followed by a precipitate drop portion 22 leading to a surface 2| 'radially' inward from the normal cam edge. 2|.

A flexible blade 2| is normally urged at its free end toward the shaft ll. The other end is secured in an insulating block 2|. The blade 2| is a conductor and intermediate the two ends has contacts'2'l and 2| on opposite sides thereof.

Also secured to the insulating block 2| is a switch blade 2| having a contact 3|. There is,

further, a lower switch blade |2 secured to the block 2|, which lower blade has a contact 32. During a major part of a revolution of the cam 2|, the blade 2| rides on the normal edge 24 of the cam 2|, in which position it is between the contacts H and 33. The peak 2| on the cam displaces the blade 2| so that the contact 2| touches the contact 2|. After passage of this peak 2| from the blade, it drops until it.may contact inward edge 23, in which position the contacts 21 and H are together.

On the register shaft N, there is mounted a drum 21 indicating distances. A second drum 2| likewise indicates distances that are proportional to those indicated by the drum 31, the connection being any one of those familiar in odometer practice, and hence not shown. There is also a hollow time shaft driving a minute drum 4| and directly or indirectly therefrom an hour drum 4|, a day drum 42, a month drum 42, and a year drum 44. The particular details by means of which these several drums are driven form no part of the present invention other than as described; There are many familiar ways of producing proper operation of them.

The several drums have indicia upon their surfaces for printing purposes. Beneath the drums, there is a printing sheet 4| fed along by suitable mechanism which, again, forms no part of the present invention. Such a driving mechanism is shown in copending application Serial No. 101,200, illedfieptember 17, 1936. A platen 4| moves upwardly to force the paper against the drums, a printing ribbon ll being between the paper and the drums.

The platen is driven by a lever pivoted to a suitable base II and actuated by a relatively slow magnet I2.

Returning to the speedometer mechanism, around the magnet N there is a cup attached to a shaft I! supported in any suitable ype of bearings inot shown). The speed of the magnet III is proportional to the speed of the vehicle. The cup 6| will be urged to follow the magnet the force of the pull being proportional to the speed of rotation of the magnet. This force is exerted against a hair spring biasing the cup toward a starting or zero position, as is familiar in speedometer practice.

To the outer end of the shaft 51 is secured a speed-indicating drum N that is superposed over the platen 4|. The proper speed will be'shown on the indicia at the bottom of the drum 8|.

Also on the shaft are two arms H and 82 extending from a hub secured to the shaft, and having spring contact brushes respective ends. These arm rotate with the shaft and at a suitable point make contact between two 84 and 85 at their,

switch contact members II and 81 attached to a suitable base. This contact is normally made at a speed slightly above a given desired maximum speed, and is broken at a speed slightly further. Thus, if 50 M. P. H. is the maximum, the con- 6 tacts may close at B2 and break again at 54. At subsequent reduction of speed, they may make at 58 and break at H.

There is provided a battery II. A lock-up switch ll normally urged downward is actuated by a magnet i2 acting on a bell crank lever 73 that lifts an insulating member ll of the switch upon energization of the magnet. A latching lever is urged upwardly by a spring 78 so that it engages the lever I8 with the switch ii in 15 upper position to hold the switch H in upper or locked position.

The switch ll includesa spring blade 11 having a contact 18. It also includes a spring blade 19 having a contact 88. Between the blades I7 and i8 is an intermediate spring blade 86 hav ing opposite contacts 82 and 83 selectively engageable with the contacts 18 and 88. respectively.

The latching lever 75 is under control of a magnet 85 having a delayed action at the top thereof upon the latching lever. It has a rapid action at the bottom on a spring switch lever 86 having a contact 81 and cooperating with a 7 corresponding switch blade 88 having a con- 80 tact 89. e

The battery it has te 8i and, 2". n:

' the terminal as a lead a: extends to a point in,

whence it branches at 96 throlidh the magnet l2. From the magnet 12 a lead 85 extends to the switch blade 82 on the smedometer switch.

From the middle blade 25 oi" the sdometer switch a lead 56 retu to the other n 8i oi! the battery. Returning to the junction point 93, the other 66 branch 81 extends to the magnet 85; thence a lead 88 passes to the upper blade-88 oi the odometer switch. Also from the terminal 88 of thebattery, a lead loo extends to the blade. a. From the blade 88 a lead llll extends on the blade II of the switch 'II. From the blade 8| of the switch II,

. a lead I02 extends to the printing magnet 82 from which the lead I88 returns to the battery terminal 8|.

Further, from the terminal 58 or .the battery is lead I84 extends to the switch contact 81. From the other switch contact 86 the lead I88 extends to the upper blade it? of the switch Ii.

In the operation of Fig. 1, the mechanism is installed upon a vehicle so that the speedometer connection it rotates in proportion to the for,- ward motion of the vehicle. The speed of the connection it and the connection it is also pro= portlonal to the speed ofv the vehicle. This rotation of the connection i3 causes the ct ill to displace the cup 58 against force oi the spring 58, and with it the drum 8d, a distance corresponding to that speed. It also causes rotation of the countershait ll and with it the flexible shaft i8 and the ease drums 31 an 38 on the register. The time and date v are also operated by a suitable mechanism, so that the proper minute, hour, damnnonth and year will appear at the bottom of these several drums alongside the distance indications on the bottom or the drums ll and 88, and the speed indication on the bottom oi the drum 8t.

Just before completing the passage oi a given distance, such as a mile, the cam p it will 'tion' 88, lead 94, coil I2, lead 95, blade 32, contact 38, contact 28, blade 25, lead 98 to the terminal 9|. This energization of the coil I2 draws the bell crank lever i3, lifts the switch II, and in so doing opens contacts 88 and 88 and closes contacts 18 and 82. The latching lever 15 then engages the lever I3 to hold the switch II up.

A short time later the blade 25 will drop down the precipitous edge 22 of the cam 28, parting the contacts 28 and 88 and closing the contacts 21 and it. This breaks the. circuit 01' the magnet l2, but the switch II is held closed by the latching lever I5. A circuit is then formed from the terminal 88 of the battery as follows: lead '02, Junction 93, lead 81, magnet 85, lead 88, blade de contact 8i, contact 21, blade 25, lead 88 to the terminal 9|. This action quickly closes the contacts ii and 88, and slowly withdraws the latching lever 18. Prior to withdrawal oi! the latching lever, therefore, a circuit is closed from the teal 88-as'follows: lead I88, blade 88, contact 81, contact 88, blade 88, lead lill, blade i7. contact 18, contact 82, blade 8|, line I 82, coil 52 and lead 808 to the terminal II. The coil 82.

.beingthus energized. will liit the platen 48 to cause a record to be made prior to thetime its circuit is broken by lowering of the switch II.

In the event the speed of the vehicle reaches a certain critical rate, such as the aforesaid ilitytwo miles-per hour, the arms 8| and 82 will close with the spring switch contacts 68 and 81.

fins will close the circuit, provided the normal operation is not in progress, as follows:

5 bttery terminal as, lead m, contact at, arm n,

hub or. arm 8i, contact 88, lead I08, switch blade it, contact 86. contact 88, blade 8|, lead I82,

coil 52 and lead I88 to the terminal II. Since the switch II is in its upper position at all times during the normal printing operation, the emergency excess speed record cannot be made except when the speed is exceeded between the normal printing operations. The speed is always recorded during the normal recording -so that it is unnecessary to have the emergencyspeed recording mechanism operate at the time the normal recording operation takes place.

, It the vehicle continues to accelerate, the speed switch will reopen, releasing the platen, having recorded the time and distance the excessive speed began. passing the critical range, an additional recording will take place of that event. Should a 'normal print occur after acceleration to excess speed, and prior to deceleration to normal, a record will be made, showing the actual speed at thattime.

Ii the vehicle should stop when either the coil 88 or the coil 72 is being energized, only a very small amount of power would be drained from the battery because of the high resistance of these coils. The printing coil Si is a high powered coil, but it cannot remain in circuit because it'll; only in circuit during the interval between the energization of the coil 88 and the release of the latching member 15.

The modification of Fig. 2 is the same as that of Fig. 1. save for changes occasioned by the substitutlon of a magnet relay advance for the distance shaft IQ of the register. In this type of mechanism, the lock-up switch II is operated in the e manner by a coil i2 energized from the Upon subsequent deceleration,

I line III, coll II and line I" to terminal II.

cam II. The release coil II is operated in the same manner also. However, there is provided a coil III operating a ratchet dog III shifting the ratchet wheel III that is part of or attached to the drum II. The coil III is connected in parallel with the printing magnet coil II. It has a lead III that joins the lead III at a Junction III and a lead III that joins the lead III at a Junetion I I1. Thus, every time the odometer mechanism moves a predetermined distance, the coil III will be energized to advance the drum II a distance to register the proper distance the vehicle has traveled.

This operation, however, requires some change in the emergency speed record mechanism, because otherwise the intermediate speed recordings requiring energization of the printing coil II would also cause energization of the coil III connected in parallel therewith, with improper advancement of the distance drums I1 and II. Therefore, mechanism is provided to maintain out of circuit the coil III whenever the coil I2 is energized by the emergency speed recording mechanism.

To this end a relay III operates a switch III which, in one position, closes the line III and the col] ill and, .in the other position, opens the same. The coil III also operates the switch III which, upon energization of the coil, closes a line III extending from the terminal II to the junction III.

The coil III itself is connected by a lead III to an upper blade m of the switch 1|, which blade The operation of the mechanism of Fig. 2 is asiollcws:

The speedometer cam II causes the locking coil II to be energised to lift the. switch II in the same manner as in the previous type. likewise, the cam later causes the coil II to efiect printing by a circuit from the terminal II, lead IIII, blade II, contact", contact II, blade II, lead III, blade II, contact II, contact II, blade II, It will be seen that the junctions III and III are directly across the leads to the magnet II. Thereiore, upon energization oi the magnet II, the magnet III is energized as iollows: junction III, lead III, magnet III, lead III, switch III and terminal I". Each normal printing cycle will thus register speed, distance, time and date and. in so doing, will advance the distance register one unit oi distance. The coil IIII acts to advance the mileage indicator prior to the time the slower coil II can lift the platen to print. thus presenting the proper mileage indication in the printing position on the drums II and II.

Upon occurrence of excess speed at a time when the normal recording mechanism is not at work.

the circuit will be closed as follows: terminal II, lead III, blade II, which is in its lower position, contact III, contact III, blade III, lead III, blade III, contact III, contact III, which is down because the switch II is down, blade I II, lead III, coil III, lead III, contact 61, am I2, hub II. arm II, contact II, lead III, Junction II on the emergency excess speed I", lead II and terminal II. This energizes the coil III and opens the switch III, breaking the circuit to the coil III. It simultaneously closes the switch III and establishes a circuit irom the terminal I0, lead III, switch III, junction III, lead III, coil II, lead III, terminal III and the balance of lead III to the terminal II, thus energizing the printing 'coil and causing printing of this excess speed together with the time at which it occurred.

It will be observed that recording cannot occur when the normal recording' is taking place, since the circuit is broken at the blade I8 and at the switch I I.

This modification also records acceleration; to speeds in excess of a given rate, and registers subsequent decelerations to the normal rate. The modification has the added advantage that the speedometer switch carries only a low current, since it is not in series with the printing magnet.

In the mechanism, the speedometer mechanism It, 56, which constitutes a magnetic motor, can be made as powerful as necessary for the operations desired.

What is claimed is:

this emergency speed 1. In a mechanism of the kinddescribed, a distance registering device and a speed registering device, a recording means cooperable therewith to make a record of the registrations thereoi', means to actuate the recording means means to operate the actuating means at predetermined intervals oi distance, emergency means to operate the actuating means upon occurrence of exese speed, and means rendering the emergency operating means inoperative during operation oi the normal operating means.

2. In a. mechanism of the kind described for use on vehicles, a recording means, means including an electrical device for actuating the recording means, a circuit for said electrical device, a first and a second. control for the circuit, means actuating the controls successively at predetermined intervals or distance traveled by the vehicie, the first control being adapted to preset the circuit in part for actuation oi the electrical device. and the second control adapted to complots the circuit for actuation or the electrical device and thereaiter to open the circuit, whereby the circuit is energized for only a limited interval, regardless of the positions of the controls.

8. In a mechanism of the kind described for use on a vehicle, a registration means including means adapted to be moved to register distance traveled oi the vehicle, electrically operated means tomake a record oi the registrations. means operated in accordance with distance traveled by the vehicle. electrical means to translate the movement thereof into movement or the registration means, said translating electrical means bemovable proportionally to the distance traveled by the vehicle, including -a member cyclically movable in said manner, a pair of switches adapted to be closed successively by the said member during its cycle, the first being opened upon closure of the second, and both being opened during a maior part or the cycle of operation or said member, a recording means, electrical means for operating the recording means, a circuit for the electrical means, a third switch, .means to close the third switch, energized upon closing of the first switch, to preset the circuit for operation, a fourth switch, means adapted subsequently to close the fourth switch, energized upon closure of the second switch, and adapted to complete the circuit, and said means actuated upon closure of the second switch being adapted to release the third switch at a predetermined interval after closing of the fourth, whereby the circult to the electrical means cannot remain closed to drain power from the source of energy in the circuit.

5. In a mechanism of the kind described for use on a vehicle, means movable at a speed proportional to the speed of the vehicle and also movable proportionally to the distance travelled by the vehicle, including a member cyclically movable in said manner, a first switch adapted to be closed by said member once each cycle, a second switch adapted to be closed once each cycle, after closure 01' the first, a registration means operated by said movable means, recording means associated with the registration means, electrically operated means for operating the recording means, a circuit for the electrically operated means, a first relay including a first relay switch in said circuit and said relay being actuated upon closing of the first switch, latch means holding said first relay switch closed, a second relay including a second relay switch in the circuit and energized upon closure of the second switch, said second relay releasing the latch means after the second relay switch has been closed an interval, the electrically operated means being in a completed circuit by closure of the two relay switches during such interval.

6. In a mechanism of the kind described, a

normally open first switch, e. relay'coil for closing the first switch, a second switch, a coil for closing the second switch, means to energize and circuit including both switches closed.

7. In a mechan of the kind described, a

'aseaaoa recording means, electrical means to operate the same to make a record, means to energize the electrical means at predetermined intervals to make routine records, means responsive to abnormal conditions to energize the electrical means to make a record at times between the intervals, and means rendering the abnormal means inoperative to interfere with operation of the routine means.

8. In a mechanism of the kind described, a register, electrical means to operate the same to produce the proper registration, recording means, electrical means to operate the recording means to record the registration on the register, a control to cause energization of the register operating means and the operating means for the recording means at intervals of normal change for the register, and means to render the register inoperative and to operate the recording operating means to obtain a record between such normal intervals.

9. In a mechanism of the kind described, a moving means, a member operatedthereby in a cycle, a first switch adapted to be closed thereby once each cycle, a second switch adapted to be closed once each cycle after closure of the first, a device to be operated by the moving means, recording means associated with said device, electrical means for operating the recording means, a circuit for the electrical means, a first relay having a relay switch in said circuit and said relay being actuated upon closing or the first switch, latch means holding said first relay switch closed, a second relay having a relay switch in the circuit and said second relay energized upon closure of the second switch, said second relay being adapted to cause releasing oi the latch means after the second relay switch has been closed an interval, the electrical means being in a completed circuit by closure of the two relay switches during such interval.

10. In a mechanism of the kind described for use on a vehicle, a registering device, a recording means cooperable with the registering device, electrical means for operating the recording means, means to actuate said electrical means at intervals oi. distance travelled by the vehicle, and means to deenergize the electrical means automatically after its operation regardless of the position of the means to actuate the some.

ADOLPHUS D. BRANHAM. 

